A lot to be done

This is the opinion of British High Commissioner to Fiji Roderick Drummond on the upcoming September election.

Mr Drummond said while the preparations for the election were positive, there was still more work to be done with just 86 days to go. There's still a lot of work to do I think to get things ready," Mr Drummond said.

"Voter education has only just started on the details of how polling will take place, this has been clarified and finalised by the government and by the election commission.

"It's important that this continues and develops so that people really understand how to vote but more than that so the parties are all able to get their message out about what they stand for, what their policies are so that the people in Fiji can make an informed choice."

He said there had been positive development in terms of the ability of journalists to report what's going on.

"But we have only just started the campaign proper so there is quite a lot of work for political parties to do to get their message out so the people can make an informed choice."

Mr Drummond said the British Government eagerly anticipates the election and was following events very closely.

"This represents a real opportunity for Fiji to move forward, to make a break with the coup culture and move into the new democratic era.

He said his government was assisting the election process with technical support to the Elections Office and would have a representative in the multinational observer group during the elections.

"I'm looking forward to this elections, returning Fiji to democracy and a new era in government where politicians work to establish a consensus about the laws and so on that are required to take Fiji forward.

"I think it's a very important year for Fiji and the United Kingdom is very closely engaged in that.," Mr Drummond said.